Chapter 678: Chapter 305: Adding Another Vassal State_3

This was a formal canonization, which set the master-subordinate relationship.

Previously, the Chinese Han submission was only in words and notional.

This can be seen from Qiao Kangquan still claiming himself as the king of Hanzhong.

It was absurd for vassals and sovereigns both to be kings, with no distinction of superiority and inferiority.

Now, taking advantage of the opportunity of relocation, the master-subordinate relationship is formally established, and the leading position of Chu State in Jianchuan State has been established, making it the third vassal state under the Chu State tribute system, which is quite necessary.

Qiao Kangquan also understood this point, so he had no dissatisfaction or regrets about his rank being reduced by one level, changing from a king to a duke.

It’s just a matter of title.

If lowering his title by one level could exchange for the territories of three prefectures, then he would rather have his title reduced even more.

Becoming a duke, marquis, count, or viscount is acceptable, as long as there are benefits.

Compared to illusory titles, he values practical gains more. What can be controlled is real.

Otherwise, if you only occupy a county, even if you claim to be an emperor, what can you do?

You’d simply be laughed at.

Without sufficient strength, even being a king would make you a Grass Head King, and no one would take you seriously.

But if you have strength, even as a local lord, no one would dare to look down upon you.

Moreover, Lu Yuan is also a king, so as someone who has already submitted to Chu State, it is indeed inappropriate for him to share the same title as his master.

Otherwise, which of the two of you is the master and who is the servant?

After experiencing a series of vicious beatings, Qiao Kangquan had become extremely pragmatic.

So he had no objections to this canonization, only respectfully saying, “Your servant obeys the decree and will not fail the great king’s grace.”

Seeing his compliance, Lu Yuan nodded with satisfaction and continued, “Since the Duke of Jianchuan has accepted the canonization, you should prepare the household registration atlas when you return, and wait for the officials sent by the Lonely King to receive the handover of the two prefectures, Jiange and Tongchuan.

Also, the soldiers in your hands.

There are many Yi people in Jianchuan, and it is impossible to suppress them without military force.

This time, when you go to the fief, I allow you to choose 10,000 people from your current soldiers and horses as your escort to the kingdom.

Leave the rest behind.”

Lu Yuan always valued population.

Because it represents national strength and luck.

The more people, the more tribute tax can be contributed, the more soldiers can be recruited, and the more luck can be provided.

For example, the Yi people in Jianchuan, Lu Yuan could not bear to give up, so he asked Huang Xuan to capture as many people as possible to return to the country and fill the domestic population.

The people in the two prefectures of Jiange and Tongchuan have long been accustomed to King’s culture and can be seamlessly transformed into Chu people.

Of course, he would not let go of such high-quality people for Qiao Kangquan to take away.

Giving the other party 10,000 people was already the limit.

Fortunately, Qiao Kangquan did not expect to take away many people in the first place.

After all, if he emptied the two prefectures of Jiange and Tongchuan, wouldn’t Lu Yuan only get an empty shell of territory?

Although only allowing 10,000 people to be taken was somehow less than Qiao Kangquan’s psychological expectations, he still had 30,000 soldiers left, and it was a great pity not to take them all.

But now that he has taken advantage of a big bargain, he cannot expect too much.

Therefore, he could only nod and say, “Your servant obeys.”

“Well, that’s it.”

Seeing that the other party did not have any objections, Lu Yuan nodded slightly and settled the matter.

…

After the relocation of the fiefs had been settled, Chu State and Han China were soon busy.

After Lu Yuan’s order, the Xichuan prefecture quickly gathered a large number of officials to come to the two prefectures of Jiange and Tongchuan for household registration handover and established the framework of local government.

The remaining official vacancies would also be filled quickly by further selection from Baling.

In addition, local county soldiers were also quickly formed under the mobilization order. At the same time, Han Shun was recruiting new soldiers to fill the vacancies.

Of the four forbidden armies that accompanied them, Lu Yuan left two behind to garrison Jianmenguan.

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with the newly-built Forbidden Army stationed in Jinguan City, a total of three Forbidden Armies and 60,000 soldiers will serve as the main force to guard Xichuan.

Qiao Kangquan also acted quickly.

After completing the handover with the prefecture and county officials sent by Lu Yuan, he immediately led 10,000 soldiers he had selected, along with the money, food, and weapons supplied by Lu Yuan, and marched south to Jianchuan in a grand manner.

It’s not far from here to Jianchuan, only about 1,300 miles. If they move quickly, they’ll arrive in a month.

Once Qiao Kangquan arrives in Jianchuan, Huang Xuan’s Central Army will also withdraw to Qianzhong County in due course.

Then the two Forbidden Armies under his command will serve as the garrison soldiers of Qianzhong County, suppressing this newly expanded territory.

Huang Xuan himself will go to Xichuan and become the chief general in charge of defending the northern border of Zhou Country.

Qianzhong County was handed over to Jihui.

With this old monk and Chu State’s three vassal states in the southwest, the situation in the southwest can be stabilized.

By that time, Lu Yuan will be completely at ease and return to the capital with his troops.

During this period, Lu Yuan also received a message from the Zhou Country in the north.

It turned out that in early August, the Snow Plains nomads experienced a major flood, with dozens of tribes suffering severe losses, and cattle and sheep’s harvests were all destroyed.

In order to make a living and get enough supplies to get through this year’s difficulties, these tribes, affected by floods, joined forces with hundreds of thousands of Snow Plains nomads pouring down from the plateau to loot the Longxi and Hexi prefectures of Zhou Country.

Dongfang Wuyun, the Pillar State Grand General of Zhou Country, urgently called back 50,000 soldiers from his side to Helong and Hexi prefectures after just ending the war with Chu State.

This made Lu Yuan suddenly realize why Zhou Country was so eager for peace talks when he just arrived. It turned out that their backyard was on fire.

However, even though he knew about this, he had no intention of taking advantage of the situation.

Chu State had been fighting for more than two years, and the country was exhausted.

Moreover, with Zhou Country’s strength, resolving the looting barbarians wouldn’t be difficult.

It wouldn’t be easy for Chu State to take advantage of Zhou Country.

That southern Pillar State Grand General of Zhou Country still stayed in Hanzhong County!

Moreover, although he sent away 50,000 soldiers, he still had 50,000 to 60,000 elite troops. If he conscripts civilians, he could easily mobilize an army of 100,000 to 200,000.

Chu State shouldn’t think of taking advantage of Zhou Country without preparing the same number of soldiers.

So Lu Yuan just lamented and then ignored it.

On the 13th of October in the sixth year of Shenwu,

Huang Chuan, who had completed the handover with Qiao Kangquan in the south, arrived in Xichuan. Lu Yuan called civil and military officials in the army and announced his appointment, delegating Huang Chuan, the Protector of the State and the True Person, to supervise the military and political affairs of Xichuan and to take full charge of all affairs of the prefecture.

After that, he led an army of 40,000 forbidden soldiers, brought the beauties he had obtained from the Jinguan City Royal Palace and returned to Baling.